Reversible tool handle



REVERSIBLE TOOL HANDLE Filed May 5, 1967 Fig. 1

INVENTOR. ISADORE MOCKRIK KM! K ATTORN EY.

United States Patent 3,438,414 REVERSIBLE TOOL HANDLE Isadore Mockrik, 8635 Provident St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19150 Filed May 5, 1967, Ser. No. 636,291 Int. Cl. B25g 1/06; Eb 7/00; A47b 95/02 US. Cl. 145-61 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A detachable and reversible handle for tools including a mounting plate and a pair of prongs projecting outwardly from the said mounting plate, the said prongs being laterally, equally spaced from the central axis of the amounting plate.

This invention relates generally to the tool manufacturing art, and more particularly is directed to a removable handle suitable for ready reversing when utilized with small hand tools.

It is common practice to furnish handles with such hand wood-working tools as shavers, planes, files, spokeshaves and the like to provide a more comfortable grip for the user. In this manner, the user may employ the tool over the longer periods of time without tiring, and in some instances, a handle of unique shape can permit increased accuracy in the work. The prior art tool handles as now in use are generally satisfactory for the usual, routine jobs, but in certain instances, these handles hamper, rather than facilitate the work. A good example of the problem is illustrated when trying to remove material from the top or bottom of a door after the door had been positioned in its frame. There is no tool presently available that will premit working in the clear space between the bottom of the door and the floor. If it should be desired to remove a portion of the wood from the door so as to provide clearance for floor tile or carpet installations it is now necessary to remove the door from its hinges.

Prior workers in the field have devised many types of removable tool handles, but none will perform as required to solve the present problem. A U-shaped handle comprising a pair of legs connected by a loop has been utilized to clamp the tank of a file, or optionally, to be entirely removed when not in use. Such a configuration would not permit working in the limited space as hereinbefore indicated. I am also aware of screw driver handles that are rotatable about the blade. Such handles have all been bulky and do not lock in working position in a manner to permit easy use of the tool.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved tool handle of the type set forth.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a tool handle adaptable for eflicient operation in either normal or reversed position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel tool handle featuring construction to permit ready disassembly of the handle from the tool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reversible tool handle incorporating positive locking facilities to assure tight engagement between the tool and the handle in all working positions.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a reversible tool handle including pin alignment means that function in all working positions.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a reversible tool handle that is inexpensive in manufacture, rugged in construction and trouble-free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claim of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the handle in one of its working positions.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the handle in its second Working position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the handle and tool.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIG. 3 a tool 10 and a reversible handle 12 removably connected therewith. The tool 12 is illustrated with one plane surface 14 and one working surface 16 fabricated with teeth 18 or the like and may be of the class generally designated as shavers, files or rasps.

The handle 12 is turned at its free end 20 to provide a comfortable grip for the hand of the user in any wellknown manner. The connected end 22 of the handle secures to a generally flat, rectangular mounting plate 24 and may be integrally formed therewith if so desired.

A pair of spaced prongs 26, 28 forwardly project from the tool side 30 of the mounting plate 24. The mounting plate 24 and the prongs 26, 28 are formed of steel and are preferably fabricated as a unit to provide maximum strength. The prongs 26, 28 project above the longitudinal axis of the mounting plate 24 for stability considerations and are laterally equally spaced from the center a distance sufiicient to adequately support the tool 10. A mounting hole 32 provided at the intersection of the transverse and longitudinal axis of the mounting plate 24 receives the bolt 34 for removably attaching the mounting plate to the tool. The bolt 34 is shown with a slotted head 36 for use with a screw driver in the usual manner. This bolt may also be of the wing nut type for hand operation without additional tools if desired.

The connecting face 38 of the tool 10 receives the prongs 26, 28 in the drilled recesses 40, 42 which align with the prongs. A central opening 44 aligns with the mounting hole 32 and is tapped to threadedly engage the bolt 34 after its insertion through the mounting hole 32. It should be noted that the distance between the recess 40 and the central opening 44 is exactly the same as the distance between the recesses 42 and the central opening 44. In this manner, and by drilling the three openings 40, 42, 44 along the longitudinal axis of the connecting face 38, perfect alignment of the prongs 26, 28 and the respective recesses 40, 42 can be assured whether the handle is in initial position as seen in FIG. 1 or in reversed position as seen in FIG. 2.

In order to use my reversible handle, the prongs 26, 28 affixed to the mounting plate 24 are inserted into the respective receiving recesses 40, 42. The bolt 34 is then turned into the threaded opening 44 until the connecting face 38 of the tool 10 firmly rests against the tool face 30 of the mounting bracket. The bolt serves to separably join the two members and the prongs and recesses cooperate to assure alignment and to prevent squirming, even under severe service conditions. To reverse the position of the working surface 16 with respect to the handle 12 it is merely necessary to unthread the bolt 34 from the central opening 44 and then to disengage the prongs 26, 28 from the respective recesses 40, 42. The handle 12 is then turned through one hundred and eighty degrees with respect to the tool 10 and the prongs 26, 28 are then inserted respectively into the recesses 40, 42. The bolt 34 is again tightened into position and the tool is once again ready for use, only this time in reversed position.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reversible tool handle for use with an elongated tool having a fiat cutting surface, the combination of (A) a mounting plate,

(1) said mounting plate being generally rectangular in configuration,

(2) said mounting plate lying in a vertical plane and carrying a handle,

(a) the said handle being spaced from the said plate,

(b) the said handle lying in a vertical plane and being offset vertically with respect to said mounting plate;

(3) said mounting plate being drilled at the intersection of its longitudinal axis and its transverse axis to provide a mounting hole;

(B) a pair of horizontal prongs projecting from one face of the said mounting plate,

(1) said prongs extending in the direction of said tool, and

( 2) said prongs being equally spaced laterally from the said mounting hole;

(C) and a threaded bolt positioned through the said mounting hole,

(1) said bolt being adapted to threadedly engage a central opening of the tool,

(2) said bolt serving to unite the said mounting plate and the said tool when the bolt is turned completely into said central opening, the said bolt also serving to unite the said mounting plate and the said tool in reverse position when the 'said mounting plate is rotated through one hundred and eighty degrees with respect to said tool.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,562 11/1894 Pike 30305 2,686,248 8/1954 Green 30312 2,781,804 2/1957 Wilson et a1. 30281 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 16-114; 30329 

